New research ranks Sydney and Melbourne among the world’s 10 safest cities

Opera House during the vivid sydney fest 2016
By Alexandra Coulton


With safety weighing heavily on the minds of many travellers during this time, Aussies jaunting domestically have lucked out, according to new research by The Economist.

Sydney has ranked fourth in this year’s Safe Cities Index, and Melbourne tied with Hong Kong in eighth place.

Copenhagen topped this year’s list, followed by Toronto and Singapore; usurping Tokyo, Singapore and Osaka, who have held the top three spots, in the same order, for the past three years.

According to the report, which was produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit, this year’s results reflect the effects of COVID-19 on urban security in all aspects – not just health.

“Digital security is now an even higher priority as more work and commerce have moved online; those responsible for infrastructure safety have to adjust to dramatic changes in travel patterns and where residents consume utilities,” the report states.

“Agencies responsible for personal security need to address a large, lockdown-driven shift in crime patterns.

“And the priority that urban residents and officials assign to environmental security has risen markedly, as COVID-19 serves as a stark warning of unexpected crises.”

Copenhagen came first in this year’s Safe Cities Index (image source: iStock/alxpin)

The index ranks 60 international destinations in five main categories including digital security, health security, infrastructure security, personal security and environmental security.

Overall, the other six cities listed included Tokyo in fifth place, followed by Amsterdam, Wellington, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Stockholm.

Sydney took out the top spot in the digital security ranking, followed closely by Singapore and Copenhagen. However, the NSW capital ranked 10th for health, ninth for infrastructure, 11th for personal security and 16th for environmental security.

Melbourne managed to beat Sydney in the health security category, coming in fourth.

You can check out the full report here.

Image: iStock/Saud Nassir

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